It’s the winter school holidays in New Zealand and we have closed our martial arts school for two weeks. Unlike many schools in other countries, we always take a break from training during the school holidays. It’s good for us and for our students for three important reasons.

We all need to rest our bodies from time to time. Martial arts training is physically tough. We get tired, our bodies get sore and we often train with injuries and niggles. Some downtime allows our bodies to heal and when we return to training, we are physically refreshed and energised.

A short training break is important mentally. In our martial art of Kuk Sool Won™ there is a lot of material to learn and remember. It stretches our students mentally, as well as physically. This level of learning can become quite intense, particularly as students progress to more senior levels. It is important to have times where the brain is rested. School and university students have regular breaks for this reason, so why not martial arts students? A short period without training means students come back to classes mentally refreshed and motivated to learn.

A training break is good for your family and your social life. Martial arts training takes us away from our families at least a couple of evenings a week. Taking a break enables you to reconnect with your family and your friends at times when you would normally be training, such as dinner time.

Instructors need a break from time to time as well. Teaching is mentally and physically draining. A huge amount of energy is required to keep classes enjoyable and to ensure everyone is learning. Like teachers and university lecturers, martial arts instructors need time away from the dojang to recharge their energy levels. This enables us to teach classes with our full attention and energy, to ensure it is the best experience possible for our students.

Taking a short training break does not mean we do nothing. It is important to rest and relax physically and mentally, but it is also equally important to keep our bodies moving. We encourage our students to keep physically active by doing something different and enjoyable. This might involve walking, swimming or cycling for example, as part of a holiday activity. And don’t forget to plan some social time with your family and friends.